Eastern was one of only 110 schools in the country to be admitted to President Obama’s 2012 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, for the University’s work in serving local communities through volunteer programs and other activities. In all, Eastern students, faculty and staff donate upwards of 44,000 hours of time annually to local communities, a value of $1.3 million.

In a report published by the Hartford Courant on Sept. 25, 2011, Eastern was also named one of the five top workplaces in Connecticut among large organizations in the Hartford Courant/Fox Connecticut list of Top Workplaces for 2011. A total of 45 organizations were cited: 20 small, 15 medium and 10 large. Eastern was the only institution of higher education recognized.

In August 2011, the Princeton Review announced that it had again rated Eastern as one of the Northeast’s Best Colleges. In addition, the University was informed that it had been admitted as a member of the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability. This national advocacy group is committed to gathering, reporting on and using evidence to improve student learning in American undergraduate education.

In recognition of the efforts of the University’s Veteran’s Educational Transition Services Center, which provides services to ensure that veterans receive the support they need, Eastern was recognized by Military Advanced Education Magazine in their “2012 Guide to Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities” as a university that “enacts academic, support and financial aid policies that favor our members and facilitate their educational pursuits.”